New president to be decided in party forum: Mirza Fakhrul

The new president will be decided through discussions in the party's policy-making forum, said Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after inaugurating the annual planning conference of the Rural Development Academy (RDA) in Bogura on Saturday (July 25) afternoon.

Mirza Fakhrul said, "A meeting of the BNP will be held on this matter, and a standing committee meeting will also take place. We haven't had any meeting yet. The party's final decision will be known after the meeting." When asked about speculation surrounding his own name, he sidestepped the question and said, "The decision of the party forum will be considered final."

Urging a focus on research, innovation and productive activities rather than political debates, the minister said, "Although there is much discussion about politics in the country, the success of research and innovation does not receive due importance. Yet, technologies developed by researchers can play a vital role in increasing farmers' productivity." He called on the media to highlight such successes more prominently.

He said, "The biggest problem for farmers is not production, but ensuring fair prices for their produce." He stressed the need for increased research into improving cold storage, preservation and marketing systems, as well as encouraging private investment in this sector.

Urging young people to become entrepreneurs, Fakhrul said, "Instead of running after jobs, if they get involved in agriculture-based enterprises, preservation and marketing systems, employment will increase and farmers will also benefit."

The event, chaired by Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Md Shaukat Rashid Chowdhury, was attended by Bogura-5 MP Golam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-1 MP Kazi Rafiqul Islam, Public Administration Secretary Md Ehsanul Haque and other officials as special guests.